The present study was aimed at testing the application of RISE model (Response-Inducing
Sustainability Evaluation) in the assessment of sustainability of grapevine farms in the Douro
Demarcated Region, in Portugal. RISE is a tool for a holistic assessment of farm sustainability based
on twelve indicators – Energy, Water, Soil, Biodiversity, N&P Potential Emissions, Plant Protection,
Waste, Economic Stability, Economic Efficiency, Local Economy, Working Conditions and Social
Security – developed in Bern, Switzerland, by the Swiss College of Agriculture. It has been applied in
more than 400 farms, in about 15 countries, all over the world, from the small mixed farms in Kenya
and Armenia to the typical Swiss and Canadian dairy farms. In this study, RISE was applied for the
first time in grapevine crops. Nine farms were selected to test the model, from members of ADVID
(Association for the Development of Douro Viticulture), a major farmers association in Douro region.
In six out of the nine studied farms, the model was only partially tested, due to missing data on the five
socio-economic indicators. The results are discussed and practical suggestions for improving
sustainability of grapevine farms in the region are presented.